Baby Carrier

ABSTRACT

A garment is provided as a baby carrier where a front panel has a pair of upper slots to allow arms of a baby carried inside the garment to extend through the upper slots and a pair of lower slots so allow legs of a baby carried inside the garment with the caregiver to extend through the lower slots. The front panel also has a front opening extending upwardly along the front panel so allow the head of the baby to extend through the opening. The lower slots are arranged relative to a bottom band wrapped around the wearer so that the baby with its legs through the lower slots is supported by sitting on that portion of the front panel pulled against the lower torso of the wearer by the band.

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119 (e) of Provisional Application 61/620146 filed Apr. 4, 2012.

This invention relates to a baby carrier which allows a baby to be carried by a caregiver in a garment designed specifically for the purpose.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many different designs of harness or sling have been provided over the years to enable a caregiver to carry a small child or baby in a suitable location on the back, or on the front facing forwards or rearwards. Typically these require the caregiver to carry the harness when not in use so that it can be engaged around the body when required and the child inserted. Clearly this is inconvenient and an alternative manner of carrying a child would be desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a baby carrier comprising:

a garment to be worn by a caregiver including front and rear fabric panels shaped for covering the chest and back of the caregiver and connected to define a neck opening through which the neck of the caregiver can pass, arm openings through which the arms of the caregiver can pass, and a lower portion for surrounding the lower torso of the caregiver;

the panels being shaped to cover substantially the whole of the torso of the caregiver between the neck and the lower torso;

the lower portion including a band for tightly surrounding the caregiver at a level between the waist and hips of the caregiver;

the front panel having a pair of upper slots though the front panel so allow arms of a baby carried inside the garment with the caregiver to extend through the upper slots;

the front panel having a pair of lower slots though the front panel so allow legs of a baby carried inside the garment with the caregiver to extend through the lower slots;

the front panel having a front opening extending upwardly along the front panel so allow the head of a baby carried inside the garment with the caregiver to extend through the opening;

the lower slots being arranged relative to the band so that the baby with its legs through the lower slots is supported by sitting on that portion of the front panel pulled against the lower torso of the caregiver by the band.

The formation of garment from different panel pieces can be effected in many different ways depending on the design of the garment. Thus the front and rear panels can be formed from separate fabric sections forming the front and rear panels respectively connected at side edges or other connection locations can be used and no limitation to a particular construction is intended.

Preferably each of the slots has at least one closure member for closing the slot at a position spaced from an end of the slot so that the effective length of the slot can be reduced for adjustment or to maintain the slot closed when not in use. Thus each of the slots can conveniently include a pair of closure members for closing the slot at a position spaced from respective ends of the slot. The closure members cane be simple snap fasteners or can be other types of fasteners including zippers, although this is not preferred to avoid generating a rough edge of the slot to chafe the arm or leg.

The slots are generally upstanding so that the upper slots are roughly vertical and the lower slots are inclined slightly inwardly and upwardly from the vertical. However other orientation including at or close to horizontal can be used provided the arm or leg can project through the slot without pressure or chafing.

At least some of the slots are covered by a flap which can be closed over the slot to hide the slot against being directly visible from the front of the front panel to generate an attractive appearance and to prevent direct access into the garment from the front. Thus the upper slots can include a simple flap which closes over the slot in the manner of a flap over an edge of a pocket

In particular the lower slots can each be covered by a fabric cover panel partly covering the front panel and defining a pocket and having a side edge of the cover panel spaced outwardly to a respective side of the garment from the respective slot. This has the appearance of a conventional front pocket of a garment and fully hides the slots underneath.

Preferably the side edge of the cover panel is inclined upwardly and inwardly toward a center line of the front panel and is inclined downwardly and outwardly to intersect with the band at the band so that the legs of the baby emerge from the pocket at the band to avoid chafing or pinching on the underside. Underneath the cover panels or pocket, each of the lower slots can include the above snap fasteners within the cover panel for closing the lower slot.

In order to provide sufficient support for the baby to prevent the baby from slipping out from the leg holes the band includes a strap which can be lulled down tight against the torso and is contained at least partly within a sleeve attached to the garment around the lower torso.

Preferably the sleeve is at the bottom edge of the garment in the form of a sweater or short coat but the band may be located around the torso with the garment being longer and extending down below the band.

In order to ensure that the band is pulled sufficiently tight to prevent the baby from slipping downward within the garment, the strap is adjustable to pull tight and includes a clip to allow it to be released.

In most cases the front opening extends from the neck opening to the bottom edge and includes a fastener system such as an preferably a zipper extending along the full length thereof. Thus the garment can be opened at the front, the baby inserted, the zipper closed and the band fastened to hold the baby comfortably in place. However a full length zipper is not required and the lower part of the front panel may be stitched together.

In most cases the garment includes sleeves but this is not an essential element and sleeveless garments can work equally well.

In most cases the garment includes a hood at the neck opening but again this is not an essential element and garments with regular open collars or folded collars can work equally well.

According to a further definition of the invention there is provided a method for carrying a baby comprising:

wearing a garment including front and rear fabric panels shaped for covering the chest and back of the wearer and connected to define a neck opening through which the neck of the wearer pass, with arms of the wearer passing through arm openings, and a lower portion surrounding the lower torso of the wearer;

the panels being shaped to cover substantially the whole of the torso of the caregiver between the neck and the lower torso;

applying a band at the lower portion surrounding the wearer at a level between the waist and hips of the wearer;

carrying a baby inside the garment;

locating the baby with the arms of the baby extending through a pair of transversely spaced upper slots the front panel;

locating the baby with the legs of the baby extending through a pair of transversely spaced lower slots the front panel;

locating the baby with the head of the baby extending through a front opening extending upwardly along the front panel;

and locating the lower slots relative to the band so that the baby with its legs through the lower slots is supported by sitting on that portion of the front panel pulled against the lower torso of the wearer by the band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the garment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the inside of the front panel of the garment of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the garment of FIG. 1 carrying a baby.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the garment of FIG. 1 carrying a baby.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The baby carrier described herein comprises a garment 10 such as a coat, sweater or hoodie to be worn by a caregiver. This includes front and rear fabric panels 11 and 12, sleeves 13, 14 and a collar 15. The garment is shaped for covering the chest and back of the caregiver and connected to define a neck opening 16 through which the neck of the caregiver can pass, arm openings 17 through which the arms of the caregiver can pass and carrying sleeves 13, 14, and a lower portion 18 for surrounding the lower torso of the caregiver.

The front and rear panels are shaped to cover substantially the whole of the torso of the caregiver between the neck and the lower torso so that the garment acts as a convention sweater of coat when worn to cover the body of the wearer for warmth or protection.

The shape and design of the garment can of course vary to use any design constructions used in such garments.

The lower portion 18 including a band 19 defined by a belt or strap 20 contained in a sleeve for tightly surrounding the caregiver at a level between the waist and hips of the caregiver. The strap has a buckle 21 and an adjustment connection 22 of conventional construction so that the strap can be fastened and pulled tight.

The front panel is formed in two pieces connected at a center line by a fastener particularly a zipper 23 extending the full length of the front from the band 19 to the neck opening to allow the front to be opened.

In order to support the baby as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front panel has a pair of upper slots 30 and 31 though the front panel so as to allow arms of a baby carried inside the garment with the caregiver to extend through the upper slots. The front panel also has a pair of lower slots 32, 33 though the front panel below the upper slots so allow legs of the baby carried inside the garment with the caregiver to extend through the lower slots.

The zipper 23 of the front panel provides a front opening extending upwardly along the front panel so allow the head of the baby carried inside the garment with the caregiver to extend through the opening at a position above the zipper slider. The lower slots 32, 33 are arranged relative to the band 19 and the strap 20 so that the baby with its legs through the lower slots 32, 33 as shown in FIG. 3 is supported by sitting on that portion 11A of the front panel pulled against the lower torso of the caregiver by the band 19. Thus the weight of the baby is supported on the fabric in front of the band and does not rely on the baby holding itself in the slots 32, 33. The band is sufficiently tight to prevent the portion 11A of the fabric from pulling away from the torso and allowing the baby to slid down behind the band.

As shown best in FIG. 1, each of the slots 30, 31 has at least one closure member defined by a flap 30A, 31A and snap fasteners 40 for closing the slot at a position spaced from an end of the slot. That is the flap 30A shown in the closed position covering the slot 30 includes snap fasteners 40 at positions spaced from the ends of the slot 30 to hold the slot closed when not in use. Two snap fasteners are shown but more could be used to close the slot along its whole length. In FIG. 1 the flap 31A is shown in the open position open to the right of the slot so that it hinges about a line 31B at the side of the slot 31 to move to the left to the closed position covering the slot. The slots 30 and 31 are generally upstanding that is vertical and parallel to the center zipper line 23. The lower slots 32, 33 are each covered by a fabric cover panel 34. 35 partly covering the front panel 11 at the lower portion 11A and having a side edge 34A, 35A of the cover panel spaced outwardly to a respective side from the respective slot 32, 33. The side edges of the cover panels are inclined upwardly and inwardly toward the center line of the front panel at the zipper 23 but spaced therefrom by a top edge 34B, 35B. Each side edge 34A, 35A of the cover panel is inclined downwardly and outwardly to intersect with the band 19 at a bottom point 34C, 35C so that the legs of the baby emerging from the edge 34A, 35A do so at the bottom point 34C, 35C to avoid a seam engaging into the leg and possible causing chafing.

The cover panels 34, 35 cover the lower slots 32, 33 and each of the lower slots includes fasteners 40 within the cover panel for closing the lower slot adjacent to but spaced inwardly from the ends of the slot. The slots are closed by the fasteners sufficiently to prevent flopping open in an unsightly manner when the garment is used without carrying a baby.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. 

1. A baby carrier comprising: a garment to be worn by a caregiver including front and rear fabric panels shaped for covering the chest and back of the caregiver and connected to define a neck opening through which the neck of the caregiver can pass, arm openings through which the arms of the caregiver can pass, and a lower portion for surrounding the lower torso of the caregiver; the panels being shaped to cover substantially the whole of the torso of the caregiver between the neck and the lower torso; the lower portion including a band for tightly surrounding the caregiver at a level between the waist and hips of the caregiver; the front panel having a pair of upper slots though the front panel to allow arms of a baby carried inside the garment with the caregiver to extend through the upper slots; the front panel having a pair of lower slots though the front panel to allow legs of a baby carried inside the garment with the caregiver to extend through the lower slots; the front panel having a front opening extending upwardly along the front panel so allow the head of a baby carried inside the garment with the caregiver to extend through the opening; the lower slots being arranged relative to the band so that the baby with its legs through the lower slots is supported by sitting on that portion of the front panel pulled against the lower torso of the caregiver by the band.
 2. The baby carrier according to claim 1 wherein each of the slots has at least one closure member for closing the slot located at a position spaced from an end of the slot.
 3. The baby carrier according to claim 1 wherein each of the slots has a pair of closure members for closing the slot located at a position spaced from respective ends of the slot.
 4. The baby carrier according to claim 2 wherein the closure members are snap fasteners.
 5. The baby carrier according to claim 1 wherein the slots are generally upstanding.
 6. The baby carrier according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the slots are covered by a flap which can be closed over the slot to hide the slot against being directly visible from the front of the front panel.
 7. The baby carrier according to claim 1 wherein the lower slots are each covered by a fabric cover panel partly covering the front panel and having a side edge of the cover panel spaced outwardly to a respective side from the respective slot.
 8. The baby carrier according to claim 7 wherein the side edge of the cover panel is inclined upwardly and inwardly toward a center line of the front panel.
 9. The baby carrier according to claim 7 wherein the side edge of the cover panel is inclined downwardly and outwardly to intersect with the band.
 10. The baby carrier according to claim 7 wherein the cover panel covers the lower slots and each of the lower slots includes fasteners within the cover panel for closing the lower slot.
 11. The baby carrier according to claim 1 wherein the band includes a strap which is contained at least partly within a sleeve attached to the garment around the lower torso.
 12. The baby carrier according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve is at the bottom edge of the garment.
 13. The baby carrier according to claim 1 wherein the strap is adjustable and includes a clip.
 14. The baby carrier according to claim 1 wherein the front opening extends from the neck opening to the bottom edge and includes a fastener system extending along the full length thereof.
 15. The baby carrier according to claim 1 wherein the garment includes sleeves.
 16. The baby carrier according to claim 1 wherein the garment include a hood at the neck opening.
 17. A method for carrying a baby comprising: wearing a garment including front and rear fabric panels shaped for covering the chest and back of the wearer and connected to define a neck opening through which the neck of the wearer pass, with arms of the wearer passing through arm openings, and a lower portion surrounding the lower torso of the wearer; the panels being shaped to cover substantially the whole of the torso of the caregiver between the neck and the lower torso; applying a band at the lower portion surrounding the wearer at a level between the waist and hips of the wearer; carrying a baby inside the garment; locating the baby with the arms of the baby extending through a pair of transversely spaced upper slots the front panel; locating the baby with the legs of the baby extending through a pair of transversely spaced lower slots the front panel; locating the baby with the head of the baby extending through a front opening extending upwardly along the front panel; 